Project Megiddo

Table
of contents

V. MILITIAS

The majority of growth within the militia movement occurred during
the 1990s. There is not a simple definition of how a group qualifies
as a militia. However, the following general criteria can be
used as a guideline: (1) a militia is a domestic organization
with two or more members; (2) the organization must possess and
use firearms; and (3) the organization must conduct or encourage
paramilitary training. Other terms used to describe militias
are Patriots and Minutemen.

Most militias engage in a variety of anti-government rhetoric. This
discourse can range from the protesting of government policies to
the advocating of violence and/or the overthrow of the federal government.
However, the majority of militia groups are non-violent and only
a small segment of the militias actually commit acts of violence
to advance their political goals and beliefs. A number of militia
leaders, such as Lynn Van Huizen of the Michigan Militia Corps -Wolverines,
have gone to some effort to actively rid their ranks of radical members
who are inclined to carry out acts of violence and/or terrorism.
[25] Officials at the FBI Academy classify militia groups within
four categories, ranging from moderate groups who do not engage in
criminal activity to radical cells which commit violent acts of terrorism.
[26] It should be clearly stated that the FBI only focuses on radical
elements of the militia movement capable and willing to commit violence
against government, law enforcement, civilian, military and international
targets. In addition, any such investigation of these radical militia
units must be conducted within strict legal parameters.

Militia anxiety and paranoia specifically relating to the year 2000
are based mainly on a political ideology, as opposed to religious
beliefs. Many militia members believe that the year 2000 will lead
to political and personal repression enforced by the United Nations
and countenanced by a compliant U.S. government. This belief is commonly
known as the New World Order (NWO) conspiracy theory (see Chapter
I, Introduction). Other issues which have served as motivating factors
for the militia movement include gun control, the incidents at Ruby
Ridge (1992) and Waco (1993), the Montana Freemen Standoff (1996)
and the restriction of land use by federal agencies.

One component of the NWO conspiracy theory -- that of the use of
American military bases by the UN -- is worth exploring in further
detail. Law enforcement officers, as well as military personnel,
should be aware that the nation's armed forces have been the subject
of a great deal of rumor and paranoia circulating among many militia
groups. One can find numerous references in militia literature to
military bases to be used as concentration camps in the NWO and visiting
foreign military personnel conspiring to attack Americans. One example
of this can be

Finally, Odinism is another white supremacist ideology that lends
itself to violence and has the potential to inspire its followers
to violence in connection to the millennium. What makes found on
the website for the militia group United States Theatre Command (USTC).
[27] The USTC website prominently features the NWO theory as it portrays
both Camp Grayling in Michigan and Fort Dix in New Jersey as detention
centers to be used to house prisoners in an upcoming war. Specifically
in reference to a photograph of Camp Grayling, the USTC website states: "Note
that the barbed wire is configured to keep people in, not out, and
also note in the middle of the guard towers, a platform for the mounting
of a machine gun." Specifically in reference to a photograph
of Fort Dix, the USTC website states: "Actual photos of an 'Enemy
Prisoner of War' camp in the United States of America! (Fort Dix,
New Jersey to be exact!) Is there going to be a war here? Many more
are suspected to be scattered throughout the United States."

Law enforcement personnel should be aware of the fact that the majority
of militias are reactive, as opposed to proactive. Reactive militia
groups are generally not a threat to law enforcement or the public.
These militias may indeed believe that some type of NWO scenario
may be imminent in the year 2000, but they are more inclined to sit
back and wait for it to happen. They will stockpile their guns and
ammunition and food, and wait for the government to curtail their
liberties and take away their guns. When the expected NWO tragedy
does not take place, these reactive militias will simply continue
their current activities, most of which are relatively harmless.
They will not overreact to minor disruptions of electricity, water
and other public services.

However, there is a small percentage of the militia movement which
may be more proactive and commit acts of domestic terrorism. As stated
earlier, the main focus of the militias connected to the Y2K/millennium
revolves around the NWO conspiracy theory. While the NWO is a paranoid
theory, there may be some real technological problems arising from
the year 2000. Among these are malfunctioning computers, which control
so many facets of our everyday lives. Any such computer malfunctions
may adversely affect power stations and other critical infrastructure.
If such breakdowns do occur, these may be interpreted as a sign by
some of the militias that electricity is being shut off on purpose
in order to create an environment of confusion. In the paranoid rationalizations
of these militia groups, this atmosphere of confusion can only be
a prelude to the dreaded NWO/One World Government. These groups may
then follow through on their premeditated plans of action.